Epigenetic control of skeletal muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscular atrophy is a complex disease involving a large number of gene expression regulatory networks and various biological processes. Despite extensive research on this topic, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and effective therapeutic approaches are yet to be established. Recent studies have shown that epigenetics play an important role in regulating skeletal muscle atrophy, influencing the expression of numerous genes associated with this condition through the addition or removal of certain chemical modifications at the molecular level. This review article comprehensively summarizes the different types of modifications to DNA, histones, RNA, and their known regulators. We also discuss how epigenetic modifications change during the process of skeletal muscle atrophy, the molecular mechanisms by which epigenetic regulatory proteins control skeletal muscle atrophy, and assess their translational potential. The role of epigenetics on muscle stem cells is also highlighted. In addition, we propose that alternative splicing interacts with epigenetic mechanisms to regulate skeletal muscle mass, offering a novel perspective that enhances our understanding of epigenetic inheritance's role and the regulatory network governing skeletal muscle atrophy. Collectively, advancements in the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms provide invaluable insights into the study of skeletal muscle atrophy. Moreover, this knowledge paves the way for identifying new avenues for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies and pharmaceutical interventions.

Advances of Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology in the Treatment of Hereditary Neurodegenerative Diseases

Antisense nucleic acids are single-stranded oligonucleotides that have been specially chemically modified, which can bind to RNA expressed by target genes through base complementary pairing and affect protein synthesis at the level of posttranscriptional processing or protein translation. In recent years, the application of antisense nucleic acid technology in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases has made remarkable progress. In 2016, the US FDA approved two antisense nucleic acid drugs for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and the development to treat other neurodegenerative diseases has also entered the clinical stage. Therefore, ASO represents a treatment with great potential. The article will summarize ASO therapies in terms of mechanism of action, chemical modification, and administration methods and analyze their role in several common neurodegenerative diseases, such as SMA, DMD, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This article systematically summarizes the great potential of antisense nucleic acid technology in the treatment of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases.